Horse Theme Birthday Party Ideas for Children

How to Plan Equestrian Western Style B-day Parties for Kids & Teens

Feb 10, 2008
Janienne Jennrich

Fun Horse Cake - Mel Capyk, Wild Cakes, www.wildcakes.ca

Horse themed birthday parties? Yee-Haw! Ideas for western decorations, activities, games, favor ideas, horse party goods, party invitations & equestrian birthday tips.

A horse theme birthday party is great fun. Whoop and holler for friends to come celebrate in county style. What could be more fun than horse-lovers as a birthday party plan? Here are some free ideas to get the planning started.

Horse Birthday Party Invitation Ideas

Let the birthday child make homemade invitations on the computer and add horse stickers or clipart.
Purchase horse party invitations and matching paper goods at a party store (party stores online may have a larger selection).
Send invitations early to assure more guests can come.
Ask younger children to bring stick horses to ride, toy horses or other farm animal toys, or items appropriate to the age.

Party Decorations and Favors

Balloons are great. Choose the birthday child’s favorite color, colors that match the paper goods, or use classic red, white and blue.
Decorate with streamers. If it is nice outside, a small “corral” can be decorated in a grassy area. (If there is a real corral and horses on site, big bows might look nice).
For décor and favors in one, cowboy (or cowgirl) hats and bandanas may be provided for each guest.
Put up a Howdy banner to welcome guests.

Chose from Lots of Western and/or Horse Party Activities

If foam or straw hats can be found, guests can decorate their hats with feathers, leather, beads and western accents.
If the hosting family has horses, there are built-in activities. If not, one may rent ponies for a pony ride or take party guests to a horse ranch or rental spot. Check age and weight limits before making reservations. Be sure to check safety concerns and remind guests to wear appropriate clothing and shoes.
A real horse ride outing is a great activity for older kids or teens. Finding out ahead of time about equestrian experience is wise.
In lieu of real horses or ponies, younger kids will have fun riding stick horses (purchased or made at the party) or the farm toys they brought along. Another idea is to go ride carousel horses.
A “Pin the Tail on the Horsey” game is a fun idea. A poster and some paper tails make a quick game. Bandanas make great blindfolds.
Piñatas are always a hit at birthday parties, if the birthday child is old enough not to cry when the cute horse piñata gets hit. Some children would rather keep the piñata.
For very young children, find a good horse storybook to read aloud and provide coloring pages and crayons for the guests.
Play Duck, Duck, Goose, but use the words “Horse, Horse, Pony” to play the game.
Play a game of horse shoes.
Play old-time western music.

Food and Recipes for a Western Horse Birthday Party

Hot Dogs and Hamburgers
Baked Beans
Hash-Browned Potatoes
Coleslaw
Cut up apples (horses love them)
Haystacks (a pretzel and melted chocolate treat, easy to make)
Bottled root beer makes a fun western drink

Make A Horse Birthday Cake

A purchased cake can be designed to match the party.
For a homemade 9 X 13 cake, some decorating ideas are: a farm scene with a white frosting or plastic fence around the edges, a barn with plastic horses, a horse head shape (cut to shape or search for a horse-head cake pan), or a horseshoe shaped cake.

A fun idea to go with the theme is rocky-road ice cream.

Whatever is planned, the birthday child, tween or teen will have a blast being surrounded by the animals he or she adores. Have fun and yippee-ti-aye!

For more birthday ideas, see A John Deere Theme Birthday Party, Best Fun Party Goods & Theme Ideas, and Fun Teen Birthday Party Themes.